Inquiry Says Harassment Claim Valid

SUNRISE -- An investigation into a complaint against Building Director Donald Levy indicates he may have sexually harassed a female employee, said the Orlando-based law firm Richeson & Brown.

Levy allegedly told employee Susan Tabeek that he had a dream in which they were naked and had sex. In another instance, he touched her on the shoulders and neck and began massaging her shoulders, according to the law firm`s investigation.

Attorneys concluded that the combination of the two acts constituted sexual harrassment, and they turned over a 26-page report to city officials.

The report was not made public on Friday.

City officials are waiting for the Broward County Human Relations Division to determine whether grounds exist for a federal lawsuit.

The investigation began in May after another female employee, Dee Creller, a secretary in the city`s Fire and Life Safety Division, accused Levy of sexual harassment. Sunrise city officials took no action after an internal review, so Creller and Tabeek filed a complaint with the Broward County Human Relations Division in July.

The city subsequently hired Richeson & Brown to conduct an independent investigation.